Ribosome Preserves Genetic Code's Evolutionary History
Monday, April 12, 2010 - 15:57
in Biology & Nature
Nearly all life forms rely on the same genetic code to specify the amino acid composition of proteins, but just how individual amino acids were assigned to specific three-letter combinations or codons during the evolution of the genetic code is still subject to speculation. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies say that after only two waves of "matching" and some last minute fiddling, all 20 commonly used amino acids were firmly linked with their respective codons, setting the stage for the emergence of proteins with unique, defined sequences and properties. Their findings provide the first in vivo data shedding light on the origin and evolution of the genetic code. The results are published in PNAS. read more